Sterile distribution and drawoff system



R. H. scHNEiDER STERILE DISTRIBUTION DRAW OFF SYSTEM Deg 14, 1948.'

Filed July 14, 1944,

2 Sheets-Sheet l STERILE DISTRIBUTION AND DRAW QFF SYSTEM 7 ,ad/W

Patented Dec. 14, 1948 s'rERILE DISTRIBUTION AND DRWOFF SYSTEM .i

Robert H. Schneider, Madison, Wis., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Air Reductionl Company; Incorporated', a corporation of -New York- Application July 14, 1944,' sleriaiNasiaoos' This invention relates to a sterilizing system for hospitals and clinics. In such institutions it is quite imperative to have vreadily available certain fiuids that previously have been, and at the moment of use are, thoroughly sterilized. Heretofore ithas been necessary'for hospital or'clinic attendants desiring sterile fluids to get them directly from'the sterilize'r. The pointl at which use is to be made of the sterile fluid is often at some distance from the location of the sterilizer.

6 Claims.` (Cl. 21-103) distributing conduits B to several draw-off faucets Not only has that entailed frequent and sometimes extended trips to and from 'the sterilizer for the attendants, but the' sterile fluid obtained at the sterilizer is subjected to contamination' during the transportation 'from the 7sterilizer to the point where the sterile fluid is to be used.

The main objects, therefore, of'this invention are'to provide a sterile distribution and draw-off system so arranged as to permit a sterile fluid as it is needed to be drawn from any one of several outlets each located near a point at which the 'i sterile fluid is required for use and hence `al1 remote from the sterilizer; to provide an improved construction of a sterile distribution and drawoff system having a number of valve-controlled draw-off faucets all so connected with the sterilizer that the entire conduit system'and all of the valve-controlled draw-ofi faucets are continuously subjected to sterilization; to provide an improved arrangement of connections at the turns of concentric conduits for such a sterile distribution system in order to insure the continuous coextensive relationship of said conduits necessary to -provide effective sterilization of all parts o-f the system; and to provide improved valve-controlled draw-off faucets each operable with one hand for obtaining the desired sterile fiuid.

In the specific embodiment of the invention herein shown, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the sterile distribution system arranged with two draw-off faucets; l

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the conduit system taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the improved form of valve-Controlled draw-off faucet;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 of the improved draw-off faucet and the arrangement of various connections in the conduit system necessary inv order to provide for the various turns in the steriledistribution system and 'for the attachment of a draw-off faucet.

A sterile distribution and draw-off system constructed in accordance with this invention involves the use of a sterilizer 5 fromuwhich lead control valves.

1. It generally being necessary to depend upon gravity'fe'ed'for conducting the sterile fiuid to the draw-off faucets, the'sterilizer 5 is located on one of the upper fioors of the building wherein the systemjis installed.v From here, the distributing system 6 leads around the building and through floors and walls to the draw-off faucets 1, located in various rooms or. at various places on one or more of the floors below that on' which the sterilifzer'b is'il'ocated.

The sterilizer 5 is of the conventonal typeinvolving a tank 8 mounted on 'a standard or base 9 and equipped with a suitable heating means, such as a conventional gas burner 5', fiuid supply, and None of this regular sterilizer equipment is shown since it formsno part of this invention. ,a The distributing system 6 comprises a pair of concentrcally-arranged conduits lfl and' ll, the inner 'on'ef being 'for conduotng the sterilizing medium' Vand the outer one being for conducting the sterile fiuid. In 'this particular embodiment, the conduit' lfl'isconnected to the upper end of the'sterilizing tank 3` so that the steam generated therein servesV as the sterilizing medium fiowin'g through the conduit ll Where desired, this conduit 0 could be connected to a source other than the tank' forfurnishing the sterilizing medium, as, for example, the steam supply for the building, which might also be used for sterilizing the fluid inthe ta'nk4l8. Z i n v "Thedrawoff faucet ,'i herein shown embodies the inventiondisclosed inV the co-pending application of Floyd A. Blashfield, Serial No. 533,941, filed ;May 3J` 1944 which has matured into Patent No. 2,381,031. This comprises a housing |2 wherein `isv formed a partition 13 which divides the interior into eompartments or chambers l4 and |5, communication between which is controlled by a valve mechanism l6 and fromrthe latter of which communication is Controlled by a valve mechanism I'l. Both of the valves are op'- erated'bya handle 18 so that as occasion demands sterile fluid from the tank 8 flowing through the conduit ll into the compartment |4 may be discharged through the outlet port |9 into a suitable receptacle., I Through 'the'medium of a stem 20 and `a concentrically-arranged terminal tube 2|, the chambers v14 and 1'5 of the housing |2 are connected respectively with the conduits. ll and IO of the distributingvsystem 6. The stem 20 is integral with the housing `|2 and supports it on one of the cross flttings 49 as, hereinafter more fullyset 3 forth. The terminal tube 2|' is supported at one end in the fitting 49 and has its inner end extending through the partition l3 so as to communicate directly with the chamber |5.

A plate 22 secured to the bottom of the housing has formedtherein .thesterilefluidoutlet .19 and a drain23, which Ais-'.'connect'ad.ito the pipe 55 leading to the steam trap or the like 51. The

sterilizing medium is removed from the housing...

chamber l5 through this arrangement.

The valve mechansm 16" comprises.: ai..va1ve.1' member 24 urged by a spring 30 onto the valve: seat 25 to close the opening. 26.through the-parz- 110`yl` of a draw-off faucet 1. Both of these connections tition |3. The valve member I'Ilf'issupportedon.l

a stem 21 slidably mounted in af-cap -28fiscrewedg'` onto a threaded head 29 integral with the housing |2.

to seat the valve member 24 on the seat 25.

A. bellows 32. encloses the. valve. stem. .21 and springA 30 so as to. prevent .the contact .thereof with the sterile fiid'nthecomp'artinent .14.

' A`knob' or head 33is secured to the `uppe'r end of the stem 21 by means of a set screw 32! 'whereby the valve member 24 may be unseated through the operation of 'thehandle |8'as will more fully hereinafter appear.

The valve mechansm l'l comprises. a valve member in the form of 'a disc 35actuated by a shaft 36'rotatably mounted at onesi'de. of the housing |2 and on which the.. handle 18' is mounted, so that it may b'e. shifted. inahcrizontal plane into and out of postionto cover 4the Outlet port 19 .in the plate 22.

A pin 3'1 on the disc 35`extendsfthrough .an opening near the end of .the arm. 38whic'hin turn is keyed 'to the shaft '35, Aispring ,3`9in`terposed between. the disc 35 and the arm.,3'8fpresses the disc.35 into contact .with the inner. surfaceof theplate 22. The disc 35`closes or opens the outlet'port |9 when the disc 35 `is shifted .from one to the other of its positions.

A torsion spring ``40 .emb'races the lsl'aftl above the'arm 38and has the end .4| Wthereof .secured to the housing |2 .and the other vend `42 'secured against the arm 38`so.as tonormally sh`ift..the disc 35 into position to close the Outlet |9..

The handle. [8 is .formed with a bifurcaftedhead l'lwhereby it is pivoted at 43 on the .upper end of`t`h'e shaft 36 andlis providedwith a.lug-..42l which is adapted 'to come into position under the knobor head .33 of.the valvemechanism l6.for retracting` the Valve member' 24 'when ;thehandle IBisdepressed on its pivot 43' aftenhavingsfirst been .shifted horizontally against the action of th'e spring 40'forthe `purpose of retracting the disc 35 from theoutlet I 9.' A -spring..45,-arranged in a recess in the handlehead |8.-'.,` bears against thesha'ft'i36 and normally lfts `theouter endof the handle so that theextension 44`isheld out of 'position to engage theknob 33 .onthelvalve mechanism 16.

A pin 46 'is located on the outer lrlm. of the'housing l2 in .position to engage the underside offrthe handle head |8' and prevent thevertical shifting thereof on the pi'vot 43 'until the handlezhas been shifted horizontally to bring the extension..44 under the knob or head 33 of .the valve mechan'i'sm IGL' p In order to make possible the location of several sterilev draw-oi'l'*v faucets at points' remote from--the sterilizer 5-and=insure-the sterilizat'ion of the `con'duits and the draweofif' "faucets,-special connections` have been developed'=for 'i the -4 con'- c'entrically-arranged;conduitsetol'permit changes The spring 30 surrounds `lthe's'tenrand`` presses between the cap 28 and a shouldersh .15:U connected. with; the outer conduit .4.'llandx48arefzshown in enlarged cross section in' Figure 4.

The. connections-Hand 48 involve the use of astandardlcross fitting 49 which in every case is Il or its branches to provide for the continuous flow of the's'teril'e'fiuid'through the system. In order toehave1the sterile fluid constantly subject to sterilization, the innerwconduit ll is extended 20 through thecross and beyondthe opposite openingandlthen returned through an openin'gi at right'angles.. Standardfittings are useditofsupjport and. seal .the inner. conduit I ll 'in Vthese .cross fittings. 'Asshown in the drawings, these sup- 25 porting and-.sealing fi'ttings c'ompris'e nip'ples `511 which are threadedto, screw into bushings 51 Tin thecross fittings 9i`andjto support threaded nuts 52 'which are turnedup to compress vthe pack'ings w 53..aganst`.the. condit. 30

H As ;will .benoted fromthe figures, the connection, 4`l"`simpl involves the runningof 'thecondu'itlO outthr'ough oneopeningzof across fitti'ng 49.'-and extendinglit .back through the 'opehingat a...909 angle. Withthe connection 48,. it is neces- 35 sary 'to provide.a..T"54"soras.to not onlyreturn the conduitb'ack' through the fit'ting, fromput of which ritlis extended,l but 'also to ...provide another branch tocut .around "and.ienter a tti'ng to which. isl. connected .the conduit I I which con.-

ilfl tinuesthedistributng .system GL beyond 'a draw- Thefoperationof the= system herein shown. ob.- vfiou'sl .involvesthe' heating of the sterile fi'uid in thetank B'by whatever heatingmeans may be most conven'ient. Once that has. been,accom.- plfsheil' suitable Valves, not h`erein.shown,,are` operated'" to open communication between 'the sterilier and 'the distributing system 6;' Steril'e fluid willithe'reup'on fiow through the -conduit ll to .anfdjbe available instantly at"^a1l'of the drawofi"""fa'ucets l? Likewise, the sterilizin'g medium,A which in mosticases wouldlbe steam; will'now through' 'the 'conduit l''to. the `draw-off :faucets and'keep 'the "sterile, fluid 'in the conduit I I and 55 the draw-off'fauc'ets always sterile;

At``th'e 'draw-iofifaucets, the sterile' fluid; of course;y fi'ows. into the Chamber |'4throu'g h the Stern/20? On the other hand; thesteri'lizing medium fiowin'g through: the c:oncentrically=ar:-l

ranged terminal tu'bc '2 l .not `'only lkeeps:t'l'ieisteri'le fiuidin the Chamber '|'4\sterile,' but"=sterili'zes.all of'ithe' parts'bff'the Valve m'ech'an'ism' H 'l'locat'ed in the Chamber '15;- The only'part of theentire system'thlati's not directly' subjectedto the sterilizing medium is the 'outlet 'port-IQ:z However; the

heat in the--chamber i5 will-be suffi'cient'torkeep the 'port'l' I 9 *'ad'equately 'sterili'zed;

",Whien 'a hospital'or clinic attendant'desires a' quan't'i'ty of'i's'terile fiuid 'a' receptacle' for 'receiving the V'other' han'd, the attendant :shifts the' handl'e IB horizontally in the 'di'rection' of 'the arrow'" (se'e 'Figure'l so 'as torotate 'the shaft '36"`fo'r the purpose'of'swinging the arm'3`8'to retra'ct the'diso hamflereaches the 1imit ofthis horizonta] movement, thehead 18'- haszbeenmoved out f'of contact with'the pin 46. Moreoventhelug 44 has'been brought .into position under1theshead or knob 33 on the stem 21 of thevalvemechanism IG. Thereupon, the attendant maydepress the handle |8 in a verticalplane causing' the lug or extension 44 to contact the head .orknob 33 and elevate the valve member 24.- 'fTheretracting of the valve member 24 permits the sterile fluid to flow through the .port 26 and directlyV out through the outlet 19 into the containerheldby the attendant. It willbeappreciated, -of .course,pthat the sterilizing medium, by any appropriate means, islnot permitted toenter chamber -lwhile sterile fiuid is being withdrawn from -chamber |4.:

. As soon as the desired-quantity of. the sterile fluid has been obtained, the attendant releases the handle |8. Thereupon,'the-spring.45;e1evates` the handle so as to bring .the-headv 18'v above'the pin `46 and'at thesame time retract-the21ug 4,4, from engagement with the head or knob..,33.z Immediately, the spring 30 will snapthe lvalve member 24 back onto its seat 25 thereby closing off communication between the chamber |4 and the outlet |9.v As soon as the handle hasbeen fully elevated by the spring 45,zso.'that thehead IB' is above the pin 46, they torsion spring 40 acts'. on the shaft. 36 so as to swing thehandle 18' in aV horizontal plane, opposite the' direction shown by' the arrow 55 (see Figure 3,) and move the disc valve 35 to close the outlet IS. w v

Changes in the described .structure ,may be' madewithout departing from the spiritof the invention, the scope of Vwhich should be determined by reference to` the following claims, the same being construed as broaldlyaspossible consistent With the state of the art.. v

1. II`he combination with a building having a plurality of separate compartments formed in the interior thereof, Vof an apparatusforsupplying Water in a sterile condition to said compartments, saidapparatus including a source of sterile water, at least one draw-oiffaucet in eachof said compartments, a conduity systeml connecting ysaid faucets to. said source of sterile water, and means for maintaim'ng the water in vsterile condition while ,in the conduit system and faucets, said conduit system comprising ,a pluralityof pipe Sections, cross fittings connecting the Sections one to another, the faucets being .connected to certain of the cross fittings, each of, said cross fittings having two pairs of aligned openings, the axes through said pairs of 1aligned' openings being arranged at an angle to each other, at least two of the adjacent openingsl in 'eachfcross fitting receiving each an end of a pipe'section for connecting such Sections, said maintaining means comprising a source of steam associated with said container, and piping extending from the source of steam and vthrough the conduit system to the faucets, the piping being Vdirected from' o ne conduit section into a cross fitting secured-thereto and out through the opening in said cross fitting aligned with said one conduit' section and then being directed through the second pair of openings in the cross fitting into the other conduit section connected to saidrcross fitting.

2. The combination with a building having a plurality of separate compartments formed in the interior thereof, of means for supplying water in a sterile condition to said compartments, said means including a source of sterile water and a ,source of steam, at least one draw-off faucet in eachof saidzcompar'tments, and a '-conduitfsysteni connecting said faucets to'said 'sources of sterile water and steam, 'said'condutl system comprising a plurality of inner'and outer'pipesg-connected, respectively,r in Sections, the connected inner pipes being connected toone of said sources andrconducting= the. fluid 'therefrom 'to' saida faucets `and the connected outer lpipes being' connectedt-o 'the other of said sources and conductingthe Vfluid from said' other source :around theconnected inner pipev Sections, to said faucets. "11 3. The combination'iwith va building having-'ia plurality of separate compartments formedinthe interior thereof, of means for supplying water in a sterile condition'tosaid compartmentasaid means lcomprising asterilizerymeans for boiling water in 'said sterilizer to provide sterileiwater and steam, at least one draw-off faucet in eachof said compartments, and a conduitsystem con-f. necting said faucets to said sterilizer, said conduit system` comprising a plurality of,,inner and outer pipes connected, respective1y-,"in Sections, the connected inner pipes being connected to ,the steam section of said sterilizer and ;conducting steam'therefroml to said faucets, andztheiconnected outer pipes being connected to the water section of said sterilizer andv conducting sterile water therefrom, around the connected .inner pipe Sections, to said faucets..

4. Asterile-fiuid distributing system comprising a structure providing a container for a sterile. fluid and a source of sterilizing mediumga plurality of draw-ofi faucets, a pair ,of pipe systems: one positioned in part within the other, connect-g ing said faucets with saidV structure 'andeachj formed of a pluralityA of connected pipestthe outer pipe system conducting vthe sterilefiuid lto said faucets, thev innerpipe system being connected.v to. said. source of sterilizing medium and conducting the sterilizing mediumto said faucets,` said pipe systems each including three Sections successively in angular relation to one anothena first cross fitting having two`l pairs of oppositelydisposed openings therein, one end of an outer pipe ofjthe first section being fitted into one opening of one of said pairs of v openings and v,one end: of-.an outer pipe of the 'second section being ,fittedinto one opening of the other ofsaid pairs of openings,V the inner pipes of said first and second; si-ictions,v

respectively, extending through. the. openings of z said one andv said other of said pairsof openings and beyond thev cross fitting,` .means to -sealthe extended ends of said inner pipes ofsaid first and.

second Sections into the-otherJ openings of`s aid pairs of openings, -a;'.l'-shaped'` fi'ttingv having three openings therein, the extended end Aof one of said-l inner pipes being connected intoone of said .openings of said T-shaped 'fittingtheextended end of the other inner pipe being connectedto another, openinguinl said r-shaped fittinga second; cross fitting-having two pairs Pf/oppositely-disposed openings therein, the other end `of theouter pipe of said second section beingifitted -intloonvev opening of one of saidpairs of openings ,offsaidv second cross fitting and onel end of the 'outer pipe of the third section being fitted intoone opening oftthe other' of said pairs of ...openings of vsaid second cross fitting,.the inner pipeof .each of said second and. third Sections, I respectively, .';extendingv through the openings of saidone andsaidjothr of said pairs of openings of'said vsecond cross fitting and beyond said second cross fitting, means to seal the extended end of the inner pipe of said third section into the opening of said second cross fittlng opposite the opening therein to which the 

